Art or process of laundrying.



I A. B. TOZER, ART 0R PROCESS OF LAUNDEYING.

APPLICATION FILED OUT- 6, 1904.

998 35 Patented July 25,1911.

6 SHEETS-BEEET avwam roz A. B. TOZER. I ART 0R PROCESS OF LAUNDBYING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 5, 1904.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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lMIME"lhllmlllili'lllillk A. B. TOZER. ART 0R PROCESS OF LAUNDEYING. APPLICATION FILED 00T- 5, 1904.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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A. B. TOZER.

V ART 0R PROQESS OF LA NDRYING. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 5, 1994.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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witnesses I 61mm;

A. B. TOZER.

ART 0R PROCESS OF LAUNDRYING. APPLIOATIONIILED 0015,1904.

998,935. Patented July 25, 1911 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

n n 5 i Q I i lmmmmf A. B. TOZER. ART 0R PROGESS 0F LA UNDRYING.

APPLIGATION FILED OCT- 5, 1904.

Patented July 25, 1911.

6 BHEETS-SEEET 6i Sum/Wm dwab'w/aj wot/Wm UNITED STATES PATENT "OFFICE.

ABCHIIBALD 3. 102133, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO D. O.

SUMMERS CLEANING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ART on rnocnss or LAUNDRTING.

Specification 1 Letters Patent. Patented July 25, 1911. Original application-filed Harch24, 1904, Serial No. 199,789. Divided .and this application filed October 5,

1904. Serial No. 227,241.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD B. Toznn, acitizen of the United.States,'residing at Erie, in the'county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and use-' ful Improvements in the Art orProcess of Laundrying, of which the following is a specification.

the art or process of laundry-ing and consists in certain improvements therein as will be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

More particularly the invention relates to a process for laundrying fragile fabrics such as lace curtains and in the following description-and illustrations the invention is disclosed as particularly applied to such articles. I

. In a general way the process consists in" sists instarching and drying.

Heretofore great difiiculty has been expcrienced in laundrying fragile fabrics such as lace curtains and similar articles for by reason of their fragile nature it is diificult first, to pro erly Wash them; secondly, to dry and finis them, giving to the article as turned out the proper shape; and thirdly to accomplish these results without injuring the fabric.

The mechanism for carryin out my process shown herein as well as t e process has been heretofore disclosed by me in an application filed Mar. 24, 1904, #199,? 89, of which this is a division.

I carry out my process with. the machine herein shown and described wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2, a section on the line 2--2 in Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2. Fi 4, a section on the line 4--4 in Fig. 5, eing part of the sriction roll. Fig. 5, an end elevation of a part of Fig. 4, a part being in section on theline 55 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6, isaplan,

view of a fragment of the fabric carrier. Fig. 7 a side elevation of the same. F1g. 8, a section on the line 88 in .Fig. 6. Fig.

9, a side elevation-of the condensing and heating apparatus. Fig. 10, a section of thesame on the line 10'l0 in Fig. 11. Fig. 11, an end elevation of the same. Fig. 12 1s a detailed view of a sprocket wheel and carrier. Fig. 13 is a similar view with the fabric arranged on the inner surface of "the carrier. Th1s inventlon relates to improvements in The machine is mounted .in the frame and has in it as its main constituents the washer B, the rinser, C, the suction apparatus D for partially drying the fabric, the

starching devices E, the apparatus D bein arranged for removing surplus starch, an the drying chambers or devices F.

The fabric is fed onto the'carrie'r G, on a platform or extension of the machine H. The carrier is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13. It comprises the rods G which are. rigidly secured in the links 9. Loose links g'- connect the links 9 with the next succeeding rod. The rods are provided with numerous adj acently arranged pins 9 In ractice I have found pins arranged at a distance of two inches apart admirably adapted for the ordinary lace curtains for the treatment of which this process is peculiarly applicable. Some latitude however may be exercised in this. The surface developed by the motion of the rods G is made coincident with thecylindric surface defined by the motion ofthe joints between the rods and links g by means of ofisets 9 so that the surfaces 9* have the same travel as the axes of the joints formed between the rods G and the links g. The carrier is further stiflened by the chain Gr which extends across the bars. Numerous pins g form the numerous and adj acently arranged points for securing the fabric. I prefer that these numerous and adjacently ar-.

vents the drawing of the fabric at theweaker points. The process however in some of its broader aspects includes the securing of the edges of the fabric. The flexible nature of the carrier permits of the These rods'b fabric while so held being washed and after- Ward treated or permits of its treatment, especially permits of its being dried while secured to these numerous and adjacently arranged points so that the fabric as it comes from the machine is in proper shape for use.

The carrier G runsover the sprockets l1 and h and from the sprockets 71. into the washer B. A supporting sheet G3 of pervious material is run onto the carrier G in the machine shown upon the application of the fabric thereto forming a complete support for the light fabric. This sheet is preferably of ordinary mesh net. A second'sheet Gr is fed over the fabric at the wheel k so that the fabric to be treated is not only secured at numerous points by the pins 9 but it-is su ported throughout its surface by the sheets 8 and G 7 The washer B consists of the tub in which the mechanism is placed. It has the heating coils B. It also has the series of wheels over which the carrier Gr runs. The carrier on entering runs over the sprocket 6 onto the sprocket 6 from this to the first washer sprocket B and from this is reversed on sprocket B then passes onto the washer sprocket B and passes out ofthe tub over the sprockets b and 6 Where the pins 9 on the carrier extend outwardly from the axis of the sprocket over which it is running the carrier by reason of the offset 9 maintains the distance between the securing points constant. This is assisted by the fact that the end of the link at the joint g is offset as shown in Figs. 7,12 and 13 so that only the ends of the links at the joint 9 contact the bottom of the grooves in the sprocket wheels as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 12. With the links in this osition, the fabric extends in straight lines rom rod G to rod G. The chains in going over the sprocket wheels run over these grooves. The bars G extending into the notches of thesprocket wheels and thus engage the sprocket wheels. By making the carrier in the form of a chain and extending it over numerous sprocket wheels the parallel relation of the members G 'is maintained,

thus insuring the smooth running of the device, and a uniform strain on the fabric, the sprocket wheels being locked together in pairs one at each side of the carrier.

When the carrier G runs over a wheel wherein the pins 9 extend toward the center as on the washer wheel B some means must be provided for keeping the fabric on the pins. To accomplish this those wheels, on which the carrier runs bringing the pins in this relation, are provided with a series of rodsextendin from a sprocket on one end of a shaft to t e opposite sprocket, said rods being-identified by I) in Figs. 3 and 13. are placed opposite the joints 9! and the envelop of these rods 6 are coincident with the cylindrical surfaces developed by the motion of the axes of the joints g". It will'be noted that the links at the joints 9 will not contact the bottom of the grooves in the sprocket wheels B (see Fig. 13) so that the chain will extend in a straight line between the joints y. This will maintain the bars G, so that the pins 9 will have a radial direction and at the same time the distances between the pins 9 along the line of the fabric will be constant by reason of the fact that the rods 72 are distanced to exactly the distance between the axes of the joints g. The fabric then passes in straight lines between the rods b the line of the fabric being exactly at the axis of the joint 9 at said rod 6 and approximately in contact with the rods or bars G. In practice I allow for the thickness of a supporting carrier or web between the line of the fabric and the rods G and bars or rods b By this arrangement the flexible carrier formed with the chain having the numerous points of Sn port may be run over numerous wheels and reversed in its relation to said wheels. This is articularly desirable in the washer, in t at the liquid can be passed through the fabric in all directions with equal force. The washer wheels B, B and B mounted on the shafts b and being journaled on said shafts are driven by the carrier G. These shafts are driven by the gears 6 (see Figs. 1 and 2) in a direction opposite to the movement of the wheel, the shaft for the wheel B being driven through a sprocket wheel 6". The sprocket wheel Z2 is driven through the chain 6 from the sprocket Z), the sprocket 6 being mounted on the shaft C, the shaft C getting its movement from mechanism hereinafter described. The agitators b are fixed on the shaft 6 and force the liquid in front of them through' the fabric drawn around the wheel. The liquid of course flows in through the fabric behind the arms of the agitators so that liquid is forced through the fabric .both in front of and behind the arms of the agitators, so that there is a'forced circulation of liquid through the fabric, and a consequent washing action.

The carrier G is run from the washer B to a rinsing apparatus C. This is heated by the coils C The carrier "in going from the'sprocket 6 passes over the sprocket c,

then the sprocket c, the rinser wheel (L and sprocket 0 out of the rinser.'- The rinser wheel C is mounted on the shaft, G and is driven by the carrier G. The agitator c is fixed on the shaft G and rotates in opposite direction from that of the wheel C and forces liquid through the fabric and accomplishes the rinsing by practically the same process as thewasher. The shaft 0 1s driven by the sprocket C (see F1gS.'1 and eoapau by the belt 1' from the main drive wheel I2.

The carrier passes from the sprocket 0 of the rinser to an extracting machine D. In passing from the sprocket d into the extractor D it passes over the extracting wheel D. This takes out a portion of the moisture. Itthen passes over the sprocket (1 into the starcher E aroundthe wheel E, over the sprocket d again around the extractor wheel D, and over the sprocket d out of the extractor.

The extractor'wheel-is shown in-detail-in Figs. 4 and 5. It consists of a series of channels D which areopen on their outer face and covered with a pervious material as a gauze D The ends of the channel have the openings (i which are adapted to be brought into register with the connections d. The connections (i are telescopically connected with the fittings d and these are connected with the intake of the compressor or other suction device (not shown) so as to draw air from the channels D The channels D are provided with partitions 03 so as to effect a more uniform distribution of the movement of the air through the fabric on the extractor'wheel. The. connection d is subjected to endwise ressureincident to its ta ered shape, thus orcing it into contact with the end of the wheel so as to maintain a tight joint. As the wheel is turned and the fabric is passed over it the connection d is brought into register with the various channels at opposite sides of the wheel, so that the excessive moisture is extracted at one side of the wheel, and the excessive starch at the opposite side of the wheel.

The staroher is heated by the coil E the fabric running through it takes up sufiicient starch to properly treatit.

From the extractor the carrier G passes into the drier F. In passing into the drier it passes onto the sprocket f. This is mounted on the shaft J and is driven by the wheel I, the main'driving element of the machine. The drier has the upper or horizontal compartment F and the extension F. The upper compartment is heated by the coils F and the extension by the coils F The carrier is preferably supported while passing through these'driers by platforms f and f It is carried over the sprocket)" and the sprocket K at the end of the drier.-

The sheet Gr is passed around the rods 1) of the sprocket K and back to the sprocket it over thetop of themachine by means of the rollers Z, Z, Z and 1". As itpasses around the sprocket K it is'of course drawn off all the pins 9 of the carrier. The sheet G is also carried preferably around the sprocket K and'this of course acting-with the sheet Gr takes with it the interposed fabric which is being treated, so that the fabric is removed from the carrier and delivered from the roller l. The sheet G? passes from the sprocket K- over the rollers Z Zand again passes onto the carrier G around the sprocket L. The carrier G and sheet Gr ass over the sprocket L and from there to t e initial point at the sprocket h.

It is desirable that some tightening device be arranged for each of these continuous carriers. The carrier G is tightened at the sprocket L. This sprocket is carried on the shaft P which is journaled in the bearing '50. The bearin p is mounted in a guide P. The arm T abuts the bearing. It is mounted on the shaft p from which the lever 37 extends. A weight P is extended from the arm P and thus keeps the carrier in tension. The roller 1 is mounted on an arm g. The arm 9 is mounted on a shaft g. from which extends the arm The weight 9 is suspended from this arm and gives to is mounted on the shaft B. This is carried by the arms R mounted on the shaft R The arm R extends from the shaf R and the weight R is suspended from t is lever thus putting the sheet G under proper strain.

' I have devised a preferable means of. operating a drier either in this apparatus or others as follows :The intake of a fan is connected with the chamber F, and air is forced from the fan through the connection M into the condenser 0 through the opening 0 (see Fig. '10). The condenser has a series of pipes 0 and the pans 0 for catching the moisture that is precipitated. Drain pipes o convey the liquid to without the condenser chamber. The condenser chamber N. This comprises the chamber 12. and series of coils n. The air passes from the heater N again to the drying chamber, being connected with the extension F" through the connection N. By this arrangement the air is continuously circulated, and it is not necessary to completely cool it to precipitate the moisture in the condenser, so that it goes to the heater with some initial heat. The continuous circulation also relieves the fan. By passin the current in a direction reverse to that o the movement of the carrier through thedrier greater efliciency is effected.

It will be noted that the curtain'is' fed onto the carrier G over the vroll k. If the pin g extended exactly in a radial line as it went over the wheel h there would be some 'puckering of the fabric when the carrier G, "was straightened out. The carrier'G is ar- .ranged on the sprockets so that the end of the link 9 connected with the pivot g is ahead. Inasmuch as the line of the pivots l I i vg and g is brought into alin'ement in goin over the wheels, the pin 9 willbe paralle fabric at numerous adjacentl to a radial line running through the pivot g". In other words the pin 9 will as it comes off the wheel it have a slant slightly forward, and will be in perpendicular position to the carrier when the carrier is straightened out. By this process it will be noted that "fabrics of the most fragile nature can be mostthoroughly washed, rinsed and dried while being secured at numerous oints; It is peculiarly applicable to handling lace curtains and similarfabrics, where it is desired to hold the fabric after it has been stretched in the moist state, while it is dried so that the fabric will have the proper form after it is dried.

What I claim as new is 1 That improvement in the art of treating fabrics, which consists in securing a fabric at numerous adj acently arranged points throughout the fabric, cleansing the fabric so secured by the application of a liquid, extracting "the excess of moisture therein, starching and drying the same while maintaining the distances between the points along the line of the fabric constant.

2. That improvement in the art of treating fabrics, which consists in securing the arranged points throughout the fabric, 0 eansing the fabric so secured by the application of a ceases liquid, maintainin the distances between the points along the 11116 of the fabric constant, and extractlng the moisture therefrom while so secured.

3. That improvement in the art of treating fabrics which consists in flexibly supporting the fabric, securing it at numerous adjacently arranged "points extending along the edges of the fabric, maintaining the distances between said points along the line of the fabric constant, and passing the fabric through a liquid while so secured and supported.

L'lhat improvement in the art of treating fabrics which consists in flexibly supporting the fabric, securing it at numerous adjacently arranged points throughout the body of-thefabric, maintaining constant distances between said points along the line of the fabric, and passing the same through a liquid while so secured and supported.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

H. 0. Loan, M. G. SULLIVAN. 

